Second Empire

In the United States, architecture styles referred to as "Victorian" include Second Empire, Stick, Queen anne, shingle, Richardsonian Romanesque, and Folk Victorian.

The Victorian category is named for architecture styles popularized from about 1860 to 1900, during the later half of Queen Victoria's reign in Britain.

During this period, industrialization and the growth of the railroad in the United States led to more complex and elaborate detailing.

The Second Empire style is primarily characterized by distinctive mansard roofs and dormer windows above elaborate cornices, typically including decorative brackets such as those utilized in the Italianate style. Window, door, and porch details are similar to those used in the Italianate style.